Lee Roy Selmon, teamed up with his brothers Dewey and Lucious, to give the Oklahoma Sooners three of the best defensive players to ever play the game of college football….I loved watching these men play the game, because they were big and aggressive…..The Selmon brothers and especially Lee Roy, left a lasting legacy on the game of college football….Coach Barry Switzer tells you about what Lee Roy meant to Oklahoma when you read below from ESPN.com….www.espn.com
TAMPA, Fla. — Lee Roy Selmon, the Hall of Fame defensive end who teamed with his brothers at Oklahoma to create a dominant defensive front that helped lead the Sooners to consecutive national championships, died Sunday — two days after being hospitalized for a stroke. He was 56.
A statement released on behalf wife Claybra said he died at a Tampa hospital surrounded by family members.
“For all his accomplishments on and off the field, to us Lee Roy was the rock of our family. This has been a sudden and shocking event and we are devastated by this unexpected loss,” the statement said.
Selmon was hospitalized Friday, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirmed later that he had a stroke.
“No Sooner player cast a longer shadow over its rich tradition than Lee Roy,” former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer said in a statement. “Beyond his many and great accomplishments, I believe the true legacy of Lee Roy Selmon lies within the kind of man he was. Lee Roy possessed a combination of grace, humility, and dignity that is rare. His engaging smile and gentleness left you feeling blessed to be in his presence. Best of all, he was all genuine. One would be blessed to have a father, son, uncle, brother, or friend like Lee Roy Selmon.”
In nine seasons with the Buccaneers, Selmon had 78½ sacks and earned six consecutive Pro Bowl selections. He retired after the 1984 season.